Extended perimeter x-shaped outrigger assembly for cranes

In a mobile crane having opposed sides and provided with structure supporting a boom and turret unit, an extended perimeter X-shaped outrigger assembly comprising:

• four extensible outrigger arms each having an inner member and an outer member which is movable relative to a respective inner member to permit the reach of a corresponding outrigger arm to be extended;
• means for pivotally attaching said inner members of the outrigger arms to the crane for swinging movement of respective outrigger arms about corresponding inner member pivot points on the crane with two of the arms being on one side of the crane and the other two arms being on the opposite side of the crane,
• said attachment means for the inner arm members permitting each of the arms to swing about respective pivot points on the crane for downward and outward swinging movement of the outrigger arms from retracted positions adjacent respective sides of the crane to extended locations projecting outwardly from corresponding sides of the crane,
• the outer ends of each pair of arms on a respective side of the crane moving away from one another as the arms on corresponding sides of the crane are swung from the retracted positions thereof toward the extended locations of the same,
• the four arms being located on the crane in disposition such that they cooperatively define a generally X-shaped pattern when all of the arms have been swung toward their extended locations;
• and
• actuating means connected between the crane and each of the arms for effecting swinging movement of respective arms to and from the retracted and extended locations thereof while extending and retracting the outer members relative to respective inner members of corresponding outrigger arms,
• said actuating means including power means coupled to the outer member of each outrigger arm to shift a respective outer member with respect to the associated inner member of a corresponding outrigger arm to effect extension and retraction thereof,
• said actuating means for each outrigger arm further including elongated linkage means pivotally joined at one end thereof to the outer member of each outrigger arm to effect swinging movement of a corresponding outrigger arm in response to operation of the associated power means,
• said linkage means each being of a length and pivotally connected to the crane and to the outer member of a corresponding outrigger arm respectively in disposition causing the outermost extremity of each outer member of a respective outrigger arm to move in a generally upright path of travel during swinging movement of a respective outrigger arm through the last portion of its arc of travel toward the extended location thereof.